PM Anwar proposes Turkiye as Asean dialogue partner

Friendly ties: Erdogan and Anwar visiting the Skybridge of the PETRONAS Twin Towers as part of his two-day official visit to Malaysia. Also present are Dr Wan Azizah and Emine. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia, the current Asean chair, has proposed that Turkiye be included as an Asean dialogue partner.

Opening the window of opportunity for Turkiye’s inclusion, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a joint press conference with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Putrajaya on Tuesday (Feb 11), said Malaysia fully supports broadening engagement to include key global players.

"Turkiye should also be considered as a dialogue partner,” said Anwar, adding that Asean already engages with the European Union (EU), Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, and India, among others, as dialogue partners.

Anwar said he had consulted Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry to bring the proposal for Turkiye’s inclusion to Asean leaders for consideration.

Asean currently comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In a joint statement issued in conjunction with Erdogan’s official visit to Malaysia, Malaysia welcomed Turkiye’s application for Asean Dialogue Partnership and its engagement in regional defence mechanisms.

The statement also reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for Turkiye’s bid to join the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus Experts’ Working Group (ADMM-Plus EWG) Observership Programme for 2024-2027.

Additionally, Malaysia also appreciated Turkiye’s support for Asean centrality and its commitment to strengthening ties with the region, the statement read. - Bernama